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His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, welcomed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and other senior UN officials, humanitarian practitioners, and corporate leaders to International Humanitarian City in Dubai for the launch of the report of the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing. The report, “Too important to fail – addressing the humanitarian financing gap”, was prepared by nine eminent experts from government, the private sector, and civil society. The UN Secretary General commissioned the group to write the report in response to the growing gap between humanitarian needs and resources available. The panel of experts was co-chaired by Kristalina Georgieva, Vice President of the European Commission, and Sultan Nazrin Shah, Ruler of Perek, Malaysia.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, welcomed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and other senior UN officials, humanitarian practitioners, and corporate leaders to International Humanitarian City in Dubai for the launch of the report of the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing. The report, “Too important to fail – addressing the humanitarian financing gap”, was prepared by nine eminent experts from government, the private sector, and civil society. The UN Secretary General commissioned the group to write the report in response to the growing gap between humanitarian needs and resources available. The panel of experts was co-chaired by Kristalina Georgieva, Vice President of the European Commission, and Sultan Nazrin Shah, Ruler of Perek, Malaysia.

 

At the report’s launch on 17 January 2016, HH Sheikh Mohammed expressed his appreciation to the Secretary-General for launching the report in Dubai, and emphasized that the UAE continues to establish itself as a global humanitarian capital. HH Sheikh Mohammed highlighted that the UAE has become a global humanitarian leader, as well as a continued supporter of international humanitarian crises. “This move shows that the international community has confidence in our state, and its international humanitarian efforts in particular,” said HH Sheikh Mohammed.

 

The report was launched in Dubai given the city’s role as a humanitarian focal point for aid efforts in the region. Co-chair Kristalina Georgieva stated, “Tragically this is the region that is now the example of people in need. Three out of every four appeals that exceed $1bn take place in the Middle East.” Dubai’s International Humanitarian City – chaired by Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Shekih Mohammed bin Rashid – is the largest and busiest logistics hub for the delivery of aid. Just eight hours by air to two-thirds of the world’s population, International Humanitarian City serves as a strategic location to facilitate the provision of aid by 9 UN agencies and 50 NGOs.

 

The panel’s policy recommendations are aimed at reducing the number of people in need, expanding the resource base for action through steady revenue streams, driving down costs, and furthering aid efficiency. The report outlines bold yet actionable ideas on how to close the humanitarian-financing gap, including addressing the root causes of crises by promoting preventive action and risk mitigation, as well as bridging the humanitarian-development divide.

 

Those that attended the launch of the report included:

  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance;

  • Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UN Messenger of Peace, and Chairperson of the International Humanitarian City;

  • Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development of the UAE;

  • Her Excellency Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State and Chairperson of Dubai Cares,

  • Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, the Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations,

  • Mohammed Ibrahim AI Shaibani, Director-General of His Highness the Ruler’s Court, Government of Dubai,

  • Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director-General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality in Dubai.

 

To view full text of the report, visit http://www.un.org/news/WEB-1521765-E-OCHA-Report-on-Humanitarian-Financing.pdf